Postcards slide Teachers’ Notes Use these slides to introduce the Postcards From The Park’s Past project before the artist-led workshop.

The project: 1. Artist-led workshop 2. Postcard activity Use the slides to introduce the project 1. Artist-led workshop Susie Foster will lead a postcard-making workshop in your school. Pupils will design postcards inspired by Regent’s Park in the First World War. 2. Postcard activity Post-visit literacy activity to write and send your postcards to Alf, a Post Office Rifle soldier fighting on the Front Line. 3. Regent’s Park visit Three activities (pop up Home Depot, orienteering and visit to the wartime allotment). Pupils will receive their postcards which have been ‘sorted’ at the Home Depot. Teachers notes: This slide provides an overview of the project.

Regent’s Park in the First World War Use these slides to introduce the different activities that took place in Regent’s Park during the First World War. This background information will prepare your pupils for the artist-led workshop and visit to Regent’s Park. Teachers’ notes: Use these slides to introduce the different activities that took place in Regent’s Park in the First World War.

The Home Depot Teachers notes: ©Royal Mail Group Ltd 2018, courtesy of The Postal Museum, POST 56/6 Teachers notes: In the First World War all the post sent from the UK to the fighting fronts the world passed through the Home Depot – a giant wooden structure built in Regent’s Park. It was the largest wooden building in the world and employed 2,500 staff, mostly female. This photograph was taken on Armistice Day in 1918. Key information: point out the signs for the different regiments etc and the mix of men and women in the photograph Pre-learning: When was the First World War, who were Britain fighting against?

Military buildings and training Teacher notes: As well as the postal depot, there were other temporary structures such as the aircraft stores depot. The park was also a place for military marches, meetings, training and rest and recreation. ©Courtesy of IWM, Imperial War Museum

Recuperation of wounded soldiers Teacher notes: There were several hospitals around the park including St Dunstan’s, a hostel for the rehabilitation of blinded soldiers- they learnt new skills and took part in sport and social activities.

Farming and allotment Teachers notes: Areas of the park were used for grazing sheep and growing vegetables to help with the food shortages during the war.

Leisure Teacher notes: From London Zoo to the lake and broad walk, people continued to enjoy the park as a vital space for morale raising recreation.

The importance of post in the First World War ©Royal Mail Group Ltd 2014, courtesy of The Postal Museum, POST 30-3381A Teachers notes: Sending and receiving letters and parcels was a vital lifeline for soldiers in the First World War. 75,000 General Post Office employees fought in the First World War including 12,000 workers who fought in their own regiment, The Post Office Rifles, (PORs). ©Royal Mail Group Ltd 2018, courtesy of The Postal Museum, POST 56/6

Letters to soldiers Teachers notes: When war broke out. Letters from home were a great source of comfort to the troops. By December 1914 an efficient service was up and running and letters could take as little as two days to reach the Front Line from the Home Depot in Regent’s Park, London. This illustration from St Martin’s Le Grand magazine shows letters being delivered to the front. ©Royal Mail Group Ltd 2018, courtesy of The Postal Museum, St Martin's Le Grand, 1915, POST 92 ©Royal Mail Group Ltd 2018, courtesy of The Postal Museum, POST 107/866

Sorting the post for soldiers ©Royal Mail Group Ltd 2018, courtesy of The Postal Museum , POST 2011-0502 Teachers Notes: This photograph shows men from the army and postal workers sorting the mail. The wooden boxes are for different regiments. Key questions: why was the post so important? The only way soldiers could communicate with their families

Parcels for soldiers Teachers notes: Parcels were also very important for soldiers. Thousands of parcels were sorted every week. There were strict rules about what you could send. This photograph shows men sorting the parcels in the Home Depot. Key question What would you send to a loved one if they were fighting in another country? ©Royal Mail Group Ltd 2018, courtesy of The Postal Museum, POST 56

Mending broken parcels Teachers notes: Hundreds of women worked in the Home Depot too. This photograph shows women mending broken parcels, a job that was previously only done by men. Key question: What do you think it would be like to work at the Home Depot? ©Royal Mail Group Ltd 2018, courtesy of The Postal Museum, POST 56/6

Letters and parcels for soldiers ©Royal Mail Group Ltd 2018, courtesy of The Postal Museum, post 56/6 Soldiers at the Front collected and posted their letters from Field Post Offices like the one in this photograph.

Letters home Teachers notes: Soldiers filled out Field Service Cards with simple pre-printed messages that could be crossed our as appropriate and sent for free. These letters took longer were examined by the army censor at the field post office. Key information: point out the censor stamps. © The Postal Museum , PH28-11 Field Service Card ©The Postal Museum, POST 56/6

Postcards from soldiers Teachers notes: Soldiers often sent letters and postcards home that were embroidered or had individual designs. Your pupils will design their own postcard inspired by the activities in Regent’s Park in the artist-led workshop. ©The Postal Museum

Artist-led workshop You’ll be designing postcards to tell the story of Regent’s Park in the First World War. As well as the Home Depot, the workshop will look at the other activities that took place in the park to inspire pupils to design their own postcards.

Post-visit activity: Send your postcard to Alf Teachers’ notes Susie Foster will leave a Stamped Addressed envelope for you to send your postcards to The Postal Museum. The postcards will be scanned, some will be included in the pop up home depot activity and all will be returned to the children before they leave the park.

Write a postcard to Alf: Imagine you are living in the First World War. Decide your character. Who are you? Alf’s friend? Brother? Mother? What questions would you ask Alf? What would you tell Alf about life on the Home Front and the wartime activities in Regent’s Park? Remember to sign your postcard and write your name, your class and the name of your school on the postcard Teachers notes: Edit this slide to differentiate for your pupils ability levels

I am writing to tell you… Dear Alf, I am writing to tell you… YOUR NAME CLASS NAME OF SCHOOL Alf Post Office Rifles France Teachers notes Edit this template to differentiate for your pupils ability levels. Put the written postcards in the stamped addressed envelope ready for the Regent’s Park visit

Send your postcards to The Home Depot Teachers notes Put the written postcards in the stamped addressed envelope and send ASAP ready for the Regent’s Park visit